Railway trucks and similar carriages



April 25, 1961 J. F. PAULSEN 2,981,207

RAILWAY TRUCKS AND SIMILAR CARRIAGES Filed June 18, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet1 NVE N TOR JEAN FELIX PAULSENY April 25, 1961 J. F. PAULSEN RAILWAYTRUCKS AND SIMILAR CARRIAGES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 18, 1958 M 4 mA 2 I ATTORNEY A ril 25, 1961 Filed June 18, 1958 J. F. PAULSEN RAILWAYTRUCKS AND SIMILAR CARRIAGES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 April 25, 1961 J. F.PAULSE N RAILWAY TRUCKS AND SIMILAR CARRIAGES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FiledJune 18, 1958 lNVE/VTOR JEAN FELIX PAULSEN ATTORNEY RAILWAY TRUCKS ANDSHVIILAR CARRIAGES Jean Felix Paulsen, Paris, France, assignor toSociete Luxembourgeoise de Brevets et de Participations, Luxembourg, aLuxembourg society Filed June 18, 1958, Ser. No. 742,886 Claimspriority, application France June 18, 1957 7 Claims. (Cl. 105-187) Thepresent invention relates to railway trucks and similar carriagesincluding at least two pairs of wheels, a frame fixed in the transversedirection with respect to the axle bearings of said wheels, and abolster for pivotally supporting a carriage body or the like, saidbolster being movably mounted on said frame so as to be capable ofsuitable displacements with respect thereto.

The object of this invention is to provide a truck of this kind which isbetter adapted to meet the requirements of practice than those existingat the present time.

For this purpose, according to the present invention, said bolster isconnected with said frame directly by 2,981,207 Patented Apr. 25, 1961Furthermore, the lateral ends of said bolster 2 form side bearings 10adapted to cooperate with portions 11, for instance in the form ofcircular sectors, fixed on the under face of the carriage body andadapted to slide on said bearings 10.

The above mentioned links 3 are each constituted by two plates having agood resistance to compression and pivoted about the geometrical axes oftwo spindles 19 mounted in fixed position, one with respect to frame 1and the other with respect to bolster 2. The two plates of each link 3,which are preferably parallel to each other and are braced by a rigidpiece 12 extending between them (Fig. 6),'are mounted in the followingmanner. Said plates 3 carry, rigid therewith, tubular elements 13 (Fig.6) coaxially surrounding spindles 19 in fixed position with respectthereto. On the other hand, frame two links located on opposite sides,respectively, of the longitudinal middle plane of the frame, each ofsaid links having its lower part pivoted to said frame about alongitudinal axis and its upper part pivoted to said bolster about alongitudinal axis.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be hereinafterdescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings, given merely byway of example and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a railway truck made according to theinvention.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 show said truck, respectively in elevational view, inplan view with parts in cross-section and in vertical section on theline IV--IV of Fig. 2.

Figs. 5 and 6 show, on an enlarged scale, respectively a detail of Fig.3 and a portion of the truck in section on the line VI-VI of Fig. 4.

Figs. 7 and 8 show, in plan view with parts in crosssection and invertical section on the line VIII-VIII of Fig. 7, a modification of atruck made according to the invention.

The railway truck shown by Figs. 1 to 6 includes two pairs of wheels 7,a frame 1 fixed in the transverse direction with respect to the bearings5 of the axles 6 of said wheels, and a bolster 2 for pivotallysupporting a carriage body or the like, said bolster 2 being movablymounted on frame 1 so as to be capable of suitable displacements withrespect thereto.

According to the present invention, bolster 2 is connected with frame 1directly by two links 3 located on opposite sides, respectively, of thelongitudinal middle plane of frame 1, each of said links 3 having itslower part pivoted to said frame about the longitudinally extending axisof a spindle 19 and its upper part pivoted to said bolster about thelongitudinally extending axis of a spindle also designated by referencenumeral 19. I

The axle bearings 5 are mounted on levers 4 pivoted to frame 1 abouttransverse axes, respectively, as visible at 22 (Figs. 1 and 2), saidlevers including upwardly extending arms the top portions of which areapplied against opposite ends of a spring structure 8 arrangedresiliently to oppose compression thereof by said arms of levers 4.

Bolster 2 is provided, in its central part, with a housing 9 adapted toaccommodate the pivot'of the carriage body.

1 (at the bottom end of links 3) or bolster 2 (at the upper end of saidlinks) carry, rigid therewith, tubular elements 14 coaxial with elements13. Between said elements 13 and 14 is interposed an annular rubber mass15 which ensures a resilient'action tending to return parts 13 and 14into a predetermined position with respect to each other. Mass 15 isadhesively connected to tubular elements 13 and 14. About the middleportion of each of the'spindles 19there is provided a cylinder 17, rigidwith parts 13, housed inside a sleeve 14, rigid with elements 14. Theinterstice between parts 17 and 14 is very small and it is filled with aviscous material 16 which damps the rotary oscillations between parts 13and 14. Sleeve 14, may be given any suitable thickness so as to adjustthe thickness of the interstice between them and cylindrical element 17.Of course, this sleeve 14, might be dispensed with, the viscous materialbeing placed between cylindrical part 17 and a. tubular part integralwith elements 14.

Such resilient and damping devices have been de scribed in particular inthe French Patent No. 1,152,493, of February 18, 1958.

The viscous material which tends to prevent rotation of the parts 14 and17 with respect to each other is for instance constituted by a polymerobtained from an organic monomer, such as a hydrocarbon of the ethyleneseries C H the molecular structure of which has only one double link.Advantageously, such a material comprises polyisobutylene of molecularweight ranging from 5,000 to 25,000, possibly mixed with polyisobutyleneof still higher molecular weight averaging 80,000.

Some silicone elastomers or other analogous substances may also be used.

The thickness of the interstice in which said viscous material is placed(for instance the distance between elements 17 and 14 preferably rangesfrom to some tenths of a millimeter.

It will be noted that the bolster element 2, which is supported by frame1, is located above said frame. In order to ensure stability of thisarrangement, links 3 are given, as shown by Fig. 4, a slight inclination(p (preferably ranging from 4 to 10) with respect to the vertical, theupper axes 19 being at a smaller distance from each other than the loweraxes 19. A torque due to the action of gravity is thus constantly addedto the resilient return torque due to the rubber articulations that areused.

Preferably, bearings 10 are disposed in line with the plates forminglinks 3, so that the stresses on bolster 2 are reduced to a minimum, andsaid bolster may be made of a weight as reduced as possible.

Elastic abutments 20 (Figs. 1, 3 and 4), carried by frame 1, limit thedisplacements of bolster 2 with respect to said frame by preventinglinks 3 from moving, during their oscillations, beyond the verticalposition.

Fig. 3 shows, in horizontal axial position, the articulainner element 21(Figs. 3

rigidly assembled, by means of a bolt 22 and a nut I with aroller 25; b.An external tubular element 26 rigid with the corresponding lever 4; V a

0. At least one annular mass ofrubber 27 made adhesive to both of theabove mentioned elements 21 and 26;

d. A film '28 of viscous material as above mentioned interposed betweenthe corresponding walls of roller 25 and element 26; J j e. .A jacket orsleeve 29. f Levers 4 are provided with hearing portions 30 (Fig.3).adapted to bear against the ends of a spring structure 8 locatedabove frame 1 and adapted resiliently to resist compression. p

' For this purpose, each lever 4 is provided with an upwardly extendingarm the end of which carries said bearing 30. .Structure 8 isconstituted by the juxtaposition of a plurality of rubber discs 31(Figs. 2 and 3) and metal plates 32 each interposed between two rubberdiscs. ,Saidmetal plates 32 are provided with projections which ensuretheir centering with respect to the rubber discs. This systemconstitutes a kind of. compression spring of a type known. under thename of Batra. Such a; resilient structure has the advantage of beingoflighter weight than an equivalent steel coil spring and of beingprovided with substantial damping properties. Of course, it is possible,according to the invention, to make use of any other typeof compressionsprings made either of a metal or an elastomer, and in particular ofpneumatic or mixedstructure springs, preferably constitutedbyhelix-shaped bellowsvmade of a reinforced fabric and combined with atleast one coil spring'of the 23, with at least one lug 24 integral withframe '1 and same pitch as described in, the French Patent No.

1,100,501 of March 3, 1958..

In order to eliminate high frequency vibrational components in variousdirections radial to the articulations, use is made of annular cushionsof a resilient material (rubber or elastomer):

- At 33 (Fig. 3) between the axle boxes 5 and levers 4, 4 And at 34(Fig. 4) between the pivot of the carriage body and the housing 9 ofbolster 2. 7

In the embodiment illustrated by Figs. 1 we, the axle boxes are located,in the usual manner, on the outer side of the wheels, which ensures arelatively strong opposition to rolling. Suspension springs, 8 are thenlocated slightly toward the outside with respect to levers 4, and thebolster and other suspension elements thereof are disposed between thesesprings.

According to a modification, illustrated by Figs. 7 and 8, the axleboxes 5 are located on the inner sides of the wheels and levers 4 aretherefore also disposed on the inner sides of said wheels.

In this case, since the opposition to rolling is relatively low, it isadvantageous to provide means for increasing this opposition, and forinstance the following means:

Resilient means, for instance a rubber mass (on the right hand side ofFig. 7) connecting together the two levers 4 located on the same axle sothat every angular displacement of one of these levers resiliently urgesthe other one to have a similar displacement; v

A rigid connection between these two levers when it is desired to obtaina high rigidity against rolling action,

' which connects the two levers.

to itself, save for the torsional resiliency of the body In this case,as shown by Figs. 7, the two arms 4 are pivoted to the bolster by meansof a double articulation of the type above described.

It may be advantageous to substitute for suspension spring 8 two springs8 and 8 (Figs. 7 and 8) so as to reduce the vertical dimensions of thetruck and to be able to mount bolster 2 so that it extends beyond saidresilientstructures 8 8 links 3 being then located on the outer sides ofsaid resilient structure.

'In a general manner, while I have, in the above decription, disclosedwhat I deem to be practical and efficient embodiments of my invention,it should be well understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto asthere might be changes made in the arrangement, disposition and form ofthe parts without departing from the principle of the present inventionas comprehended within the scope of the accompanying claims.

' What I claim is: v

v 1. A truck which comprises, in combination, two pairs of wheels, axlesmounted on said wheels, bearings mounted to support said axles, a frameunit supported by said bearings so as to be fixed in the transversedirection with respect thereto, a bolster unit, two links of fixedlength located on opposite sides respectively of the longitudinalvertical middle plane of said frame unit for directly connecting saidbolster unit with said frame unit, each of said links having its lowerpart pivoted to said frame unit about a longitudinal axis and its upperpart pivoted to said bolster unit about a longitudinal axis, said linksconstituting the only weight transmitting means between said bolsterunit and said frame unit, and return means interposed between at leastone of said links and that of said two units to which it is pivoted forresiliently urging said links toward symmetrical positions with respectto said longitudinal middle plane. T 2. A truck according to claim 1 inwhich said return means include a member rigid with said last mentionedunit, a member rigid with said last mentioned link, said two memberscoaxially surrounding each other about the axis of pivoting of said lastmentioned link with respect to saidlast mentioned unit, an annular massof a resilient material packed between said two members and having itsinner and outer surfaces in adhesive contact therewith respectively forresiliently urging said members toward a given relative position withrespect to each other for which said links occupy said symmetricalpositions with respect to said vertical middle plane, said two membershaving respective coaxial cylindrical surfaces thereof adjacent to eachother so as to leave a narrow interstice between them and a viscoussubstance maintained in said interstice so as to damp the movements ofsaid members this connection being obtained for instance by moldng intoa single piece 36 (lefthand side of Fig. 7) said two levers, whichcompels the axle to move always parallelly with respect to each other.

3. ,A truck according to claim 1 in which each of said links is made oftwo portions parallel to each otherand the center lines of which arelocated in the planes determined by the two axes about which each linkis pivoted to said frame and said bolster respectively, said bolsterbeing provided with two bearing surfaces for supporting a carriage body,each of said bearing surfaces being located on the portion of saidbolster extending between said two portions of one of said links. a

4. A truck which comprises, in combination, two pairs of wheels, axlesmounted on said wheels, bearings mounted to support said axles, a frameunit supported by Said bearings so as to be fixed in the transversedirection withrespect thereto, a bolster unit, two links of fixed lengthlocated on opposite sides respectively of the longitudinal verticalmiddle plane of said frame unit for dif rectly connecting said bolsterunit with said frame unit, each, of said links having its lower partpivoted to said frame'unit about a longitudinal axis and its upper partpivoted to saidbolster unit about a longitudinal axis, an l n ssn imins. t e nl weight t s t i ea between said bolster unit and said frameunit, and return means interposed between each of said links and saidtwo units to which it is pivoted for resiliently urging said linkstoward symmetrical positions with respect to said longitudinal middleplane.

5. A truck which comprises, in combination, two pairs of wheels, axlesmounted on said wheels, bearings mounted to support said axles, a frameunit supported by said bearings so as to be fixed in the transversedirection with respect thereto, a bolster unit, two links of fixedlength located on opposite sides respectively of the longitudinalvertical middle plane of said frame unit for directly connecting saidbolster unit with said frame unit, each of said links having its lowerpart pivoted to said frame unit about a longitudinal axis and its upperpart pivoted to said bolster unit about a longitudinal axis, said linksconstituting the only weight transmitting means between said bolsterunit and said frame unit, and means interposed between at least one ofsaid links and that of said two units to which it is pivoted forresiliently urging said links toward symmetrical positions with respectto said longitudinal middle plane, the respective axes about which theupper parts of said links are pivoted to said bolster unit being at adistance from each other smaller than the distance between therespective axes about which said links are pivoted to said frame unit.

6. A truck according to claim 5 in which the angle made by each of saidlinks with the vertical rangesfrom 4 to 10 in the state of rest.

7. A truck according to claim 5 further including resilient abutmentmeans carried bysaid frame and arranged to cooperate with said bolsterto prevent either of said links from pivoting outwardly beyond theposition where it is vertical.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,194,792 Herdon Mar. 26, 1940 2,271,195 Joy Jan. 27, 1942 2,630,079Cottrell Mar. 3, 1953 2,638,058 Williams May 12, 1953 2,720,847 HedinOct. 18, 1955 2,730,048 Coskun Jan. 10, 6

